A two-time Olympic Greco-Roman medal winner, Rulon Gardner solidified himself as one of the top wrestlers in the world.

He intimidated opponents with his size and physicality, outmaneuvered them with his skills and outperformed them on the mat.

Now, instead of dropping opponents to the ground, he's teaching the next wave of future wrestlers - like he did Thursday at Wabash College's Little Giant Team Wrestling Camp. And Gardner cherishes teaching every minute.

"I want to see (the kids) learn something they've never seen before and can use the rest of their lives," said Gardner, who a Gold-Medalist at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia and a Bronze-Medalist at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. "If I give back to the kids and can give them something back for the rest of their lives, that is great . . . I try to think of what's one thing I can show the kids that they've probably never seen before and what's one thing that will stick with them the rest of their lives."

In its third year, the Little Giant Team Wrestling camp focuses on teaching young wrestlers (ages 8-years-old and up) fundamental skills and team building exercises. Wabash College wrestling coach Brian Anderson had four Olympic wrestlers teach in this week's camp, which runs until Saturday.

Anderson has brought in seven Olympic wrestlers in three years, with Steven Abas (an Olympic Silver Medalist in 2004 two years ago) Sammy Henson (a two-time Olympic Silver Medalist in 2000 two years ago) and Joe Williams (a two-time Olympian last year).

He wanted to give younger wrestlers a chance to work with the best in the world.

"I wanted to try and draw the big-name guys," Anderson said. "Most college campuses get college coaches. When you see kids out there joking around with Olympians, it brings a difference to the camp."

Gardner, 36, doesn't mind talking about his the blockades that could have stopped him from wrestling. Instead, he used them as motivation.

Diagnosed with a reading comprehension/speed of reading learning disorder while growing up, he struggled taking tests all throughout his childhood.

"I'd be the last one done. I didn't have confidence. Today, I'd probably have (Attention Deficit Disorder)," Gardner said. "Wrestling taught me how to focus. You had to physically control yourself and have to realize where you are at all times on the mat."

The youngest of nine children, Gardner started wrestling when he was 6-years-old and kept going despite plenty of roadblocks.

He didn't make Star Valley's High School (Wyo.) wrestling team until his senior year - while one of his four older brothers did, tormenting him. But he kept going and continued to wrestle.

After graduating from Star Valley in 1989, Gardner attended Ricks Junior College, graduating from there in 1991 before heading to the University of Nebraska. But of his 64 credits, only 16 transferred over.